Former Ravens OT Jared Gaither staying with Chargers

Pictures of the Ravens game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.

Matt VenselThe Baltimore Sun

We’re not going to alert you about every former Ravens player -- I’m talking before 2011, not their current free agents -- but I figured Ravens fans would be interested to know that Jared Gaither, who was with the Ravens in 2010 but last played for them in 2009, is staying with the San Diego Chargers.

Gaither, who was born in White Plains and played college football at Maryland, was one of the more polarizing players in recent Ravens memory. A supplemental draft pick in 2007, the towering tackle tantalized at times but wasn’t on the same page with the coaching staff at the end of his days here.

Gaither started 33 games for the Ravens from 2007 to 2009, but showed up to training camp in 2010 much lighter than Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had expected. He was moved to right tackle during camp, but he did not play a snap for the Ravens that season as he battled a mysterious back ailment.

He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs before the 2011 season, but was waived in late November. Gaither was claimed by the Chargers, started immediately at left tackle in Week 13 and played well as quarterback Philip Rivers was sacked just once in Gaither’s five starts with the team.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old parlayed that into a four-year contract with the Chargers, according to the team.

“I was ecstatic,” Gaither told San Diego’s team website. “It’s definitely been a blessed day to be able to get that done and just get that out of the way. It allows me to focus on football strictly and solely and get the job done. It was a great fit and obviously both of the parties felt that way and we were able to get the contract out of the way and we just look forward to progressing and getting better.”